Dutch government extends military training mission in Iraq

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Dutch government says it is extending its involvement in a military training mission in Iraq until the end of 2017.

The Netherlands has been part of the international coalition fighting the so-called Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria since October 2014.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Friday that Dutch troops will continue to train Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces. The Dutch air force will also keep a refueling aircraft in the region and a unit providing security for Belgian fighter jets.

Rutte says the Dutch forces "are doing very important and highly regarded work there training people to fight ISIS."

About 150 Dutch troops are involved in the training mission in Iraq, which had been scheduled to end on Oct. 1.